NHTSA Complaint #10560802 — 2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM

I WAS PARKED AT A SHOPPING CENTER. I STARTED THE CAR, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE LEAKED BRAKE FLUID FROM THE BRAKE LINE. SINCE I STILL HAD THE PARKING BRAKE AND A LITTLE OF THE REAR BRAKES, I LIMPED THE CAR TO A GARAGE. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE PEDAL TO STOP, I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. UPON CHECKING, THE OTHER BRAKE LINE HAD BURST ALSO. I HAD IT CHECKED AND CONFIRMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT BOTH BRAKE LINES HAD BURST. I CALLED THE GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALLS AND THAT ANY REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. I CALLED GM, EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS WRONG AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE CAR SUDDENLY HAD NO BRAKES BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES HAD BURST. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND INJURY OR DEATH IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR NEW, HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY OTHER PRIOR DAMAGE. *TR